The 2007 recipients of the Order of Prince Edward Island were announced today by the Chancellor of the Order, the Honourable Barbara A. Hagerman, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island and Mr. Nils Ling, Chair of the Order of Prince Edward Island Advisory Council.
The three Islanders selected to receive the honour are:
Mr. William MacLean of Wilmot
Mr. Ray Murphy of Stratford
Ms. Helen Robbins of Montague
These three individuals were selected from a total of 34 Islanders nominated to receive the award this year.
The honour was first conferred in 1996 with six individuals invested at that time; since then there have been three Islanders invested each year. The 2006 inductees into the Order were Dr. Sheldon R. Cameron of Summerside, Mr. Frank J. Ledwell of Loyalist Road, and Ms. Dorothy Lewis of York.
The honour is awarded as a means of recognizing those Islanders who have shown individual excellence or outstanding leadership in their community and in their chosen occupation or profession. It is the highest honour that can be accorded a citizen of the Province and is awarded annually following a public nomination process. Recipients are selected by an independent nine-person Advisory Council. Insignia of the Order will be presented by Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor at a special investiture ceremony in October at Government House, Charlottetown.
BACKGROUNDER - ORDER OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND RECIPIENTS
Helen Robbins – Montague:
A teacher, mother and community volunteer and activist, Helen Robbins has shown excellence and outstanding leadership in her community during many years of volunteer work. Ms. Robbins has used her gifts to teach others in her effort to assist people in achieving their full potential. Her unassuming manner and unselfishness have served as encouragement for individuals to strive to achieve their best.
Helen’s family, church and community have all benefitted from her untiring ambition, kindness and dedication. Over the years, she has contributed countless volunteer hours to many organizations: the PEI Teachers’ Federation; the Kings County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, including coordination of Volunteen Services; canvassing and organizing various door-to-door charitable campaigns; the Uigg-Kinross-Grandview Women’s Institute; the local 4-H Club; the LOVE Program, including tutoring students, some with special needs; the Montague Curling Club, contributing extensively to the development of junior curling; the Brudenell Ladies Golf Association; the Meals on Wheels Program; and C.G.I.T. As well, Helen has served her church community and the seniors community in her area.
In 1992, Helen was named a Paul Harris Award recipient by the Montague Rotary Club.
As the foregoing clearly demonstrates, Ms. Robbins continues to make significant contributions toward making Prince Edward Island and her community a more caring and compassionate place. For these efforts, Ms. Robbins will be honoured with the Order of Prince Edward Island.
Ray Murphy – Stratford:
Mr. Ray Murphy has served Prince Edward Island in many different ways. As a pharmacist, Mr. Murphy has been extensively involved in educating and encouraging Islanders of the benefit of all aspects of healthy living while making significant and lasting contributions in the areas of the arts, business, education, and municipal government.
President and founder of Murphy’s Pharmacies, Ray is well known throughout Prince Edward Island for his commitment to health promotion, health education and the resulting benefits for our communities. His extensive involvement in promoting healthy lifestyles include: the cable television program “Health Matters”; radio wellness campaigns; the Healthy Choices Program; Charlottetown area schools educational programs on body image, sexually transmitted diseases, hygiene and drug abuse; sponsorship of the Celebration 50+ event; Health and Wellness Stage; Women’s Health Expo; establishment of the Health Education Centre; Toys for Tots campaign; and Christmastime initiatives to support seniors in need. Finally, Mr. Murphy, in an effort to improve the recreational and social opportunities for people in the Charlottetown area, purchased the former Basilica Recreation Centre with plans to continue to operate the Centre as a nonprofit organization with an open door policy.
Mr. Murphy has also worked with, and made valuable contributions to, the United Way of PEI, Salvation Army Red Shield Campaign, Sherwood Parkdale Rural Minor Hockey Association, Red Cross, Greater Charlottetown and Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, PEI Senators Hockey Club, PEI Pharmaceutical Association, Board member and Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Chair of the QEH Endowment Fund, Councillor for the Town of Stratford, Vice-Chair of the Holland College Board of Governors, Board Member of the Fathers of Confederation Buildings Trust and Co-Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life.
As this impressive list clearly demonstrates, Mr. Murphy will be an outstanding addition to the Order of Prince Edward Island.
William (Bill) MacLean – Wilmot Valley:
Bill MacLean has devoted countless volunteer hours over the past 38 years to the social, economic and cultural well being of Prince Edward Island and its people. He has made significant contributions in the areas of health, conservation, safety, environment, agriculture, scouting and technical vocational education.
Bill worked diligently on the creation of the International Children’s Memorial Place for those who have lost a loved one and especially for those who have suffered the loss of a child. He was also a driving force behind the creation of the Trauma Centre and System and, with the death of his son as the result of a delay in receiving treatment, was instrumental in the development of the first dedicated air ambulance service for PEI.
Other organizations and causes that have received the benefit of Bill’s tireless energy and commitment include, snowmobile safety, Ducks Unlimited, Boy Scouts (integral in the formation of PEI’s first Beaver Colony in Bedeque in 1971) and first Chair of Aviculture Committee of PEI.
In acknowledgment of these contributions, Bill has received the Harry T. Holman Award from the Prince County Hospital Foundation for his outstanding contributions in bringing to fruition an air ambulance service to NS. Bill was also recognized with the 1998 Mayor’s Good Neighbour Award from the City of Summerside and a certificate of appreciation from the NS Provincial Director of Emergency Health Services for contributions toward the establishment of a new trauma system for NS to which PEI residents now have access.
This list of achievements clearly shows how Bill has positively contributed to PEI and the many different ways he has worked to make Prince Edward Island a better place.